MANILA - The Department of Justice said it is hopeful that the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal will uphold its second decision to extradite former Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said that even if Teves filed an appeal, the Timor-Leste Court would stick to its decision.

“Pangalawang pagkakataon na ho ito, at parehas pa rin ang desisyon nila kaya hindi natin, we do not expect na mag-iiba pa po yung decision ng Court of Appeals ng Timor-Leste,” Clavano said.

The Philippine government has requested the extradition of Teves who is facing multiple murder cases involving the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others. The DOJ initially said Teves has 30 days to file an appeal.

“We are coordinating with the Timor-Leste officials, our counter-parts, to see whether they still have the right of appeal, the mechanics are unfamiliar to us, that’s why we have engaged a counsel from Timor-Leste to help us through the whole process,” Clavano said.

In the decision of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal, it was emphasized that the multiple charges of murder happened in the Philippines.

“Since the alleged acts imputed to the extraditee were carried out in the Philippines, the victims being Filipinos, and taking into account the principle of territoriality, we cannot see how he could not be subject to that jurisdiction and be subject to that of the Timorese state,” the court said.

One of the three judges however dissented from the decision and used the statements of United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan on “voices critical of the government” being put at risk in the Philippines.

“There is therefore a high probability that Mr. Arnolfo Alipit Teves Junior will continue to suffer human rights violations if he is extradited,” said Judge Duane Tilcoan Sores.